Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta Anġlu Farrugia met with the Dean of the Arab Missions in Malta and the Ambassadors from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the developments in Gaza and the humanitarian challenges faced by the region.
The following Ambassadors and senior diplomats attended the meeting: Fadi Hanania, Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Khaled Anis, Ambassador of Egypt, Zuheir Bouras, Ambassador of Tunisia, Rashid Aldehaimi, Ambassador of Qatar, Mishal Almodaf, Ambassador of Kuwait, Abdullah Alzabidy, Ambassador of the Arab League, Mohammed Ali, Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of Libya, Fethi Etem, Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of Turkey
During the meeting, discussions were centred around the current humanitarian and political situation in Gaza, with all parties expressing deep concern over the ongoing violence, especially the recent air strikes on Gaza, and the mounting casualties among civilians. Speaker Anġlu Farrugia expressed his grave concern regarding the escalating situation, urging both sides to exercise restraint and to prioritize the protection of innocent lives.
One of the key points of the discussion was the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza and the broader Palestinian territories, particularly with regards to the delivery of humanitarian aid, a statement read. The ambassadors emphasized the importance of ensuring the unhindered and timely flow of aid, especially under the framework of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which operates in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.
"The group also voiced their concerns about the impact of the conflict on civilian populations, with a particular focus on the increasing number of casualties and the immense suffering experienced by Palestinian families. The discussion highlighted the need for continued international support to alleviate this suffering."
Speaker Anġlu Farrugia reaffirmed Malta's long-standing position of support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the pre-1967 borders. He called on both parties to return to dialogue and engage in meaningful negotiations, with the aim of achieving lasting peace and security for both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.
The Speaker emphasised that the situation in Gaza requires urgent attention, and reiterated Malta's commitment to working with international partners to promote peace and stability in the region. He also underlined the need for the international community to hold all parties accountable for their actions and to continue providing humanitarian support to those in need.